Monthly Archives: July 2012

It’s been awhile since I’ve been home on a weeknight and have had time to cook something nutritious. After a killer workout at the gym I wanted to put something wholesome in my body. I rummaged through my pantry and freezer and realized I could put together a shrimp scampi with vegetables. Tonight I opted to mix green beans in with the scampi and serve over Chinese noodles. I figured out the nutrition facts and this tasty dish came in at about 580 calories and less than 11 grams of fat….and I definitely made the portion size a tad too big 😉

Ah, Sangria. For me, it is the perfect summer beverage. Chilled wine, fresh fruit, a hint of sweetness…

My love affair with the beverage began when I was in college. I was first introduced to it in San Francisco by my sister, who was living there at the time. She and her then boyfriend snuck me into a bar they loved as I was only 20 years old. The first glass I was not getting what was so great about sangria. Granted, you need to keep in mind I was 20 and Malibu Bay Breezes and Buttery Nipple shots ruled my underage world. By the second glass I was hooked, and by the end of the pitcher as I nibbled on all the punch infused fruit, I was very, very drunk. I have to say, though, years later the first glass always goes down a little rough and then sangria is my BFF.

As I continued my college career, which included culinary school and a bartender’s license, I started experimenting with making sangria. My college best friend Susan and I discovered this awesome mix at Le Gourmet Chef which had a location at Providence Place Mall. The mix looked like this: It was such a simple recipe – wine, water, the mix, and brandy. Since it was the late 90s/early 2000s, we of course thought we were so clever and went with what all the rappers drank, Courvoisier. We were hooked. Nearly every time we hit up the mall we bought them out of the mix. Over time, the store stopped carrying it and we were devastated, so we had to start replicating our own recipes.

I have been complimented on my sangria quite a bit, and it’s time to share it with you all. I wish I could brag and make it out like I’m sharing this amazing trade secret, but I am almost embarrassed by how easy this is to make. The most time consuming part is chopping up fresh fruit.

assorted fresh fruit – I prefer a mix of citrus and tart apples, fruits that can hold up to a lot of alcohol.

Cut up fruit into chunk size pieces (about 1.5 inches), set aside. Mix all the liquids in a large container – preferably 2-3 gallons, leaving room for the fruit. Add fruit, chill overnight. When ready to serve, add a bit of ice and make sure each glass has plenty of fruit. Enjoy!

If you don’t have a large container, you can divide up the liquid into smaller pitchers for serving. It’s best to leave the fruit in overnight because it allows more flavors to develop, but if traveling to a party you can store the liquids in one container and fruit in another.

So I realized I did not post anything in the month of June. This is because I was busy putting myself out there and landing a new job. I will be starting work with Whole Foods Market at the end of the month. Hopefully my new discount and exposure to all this wonderful food will inspire me to get in the kitchen more. 🙂

Step aside Paula Deen. There is a new pornographic food pusher out there and her name is Pinterest. I spend more time ogling over recipes than most men spend on Porn Hub.

Much like the discovery of a new sexual position, I have stumbled across a new dessert that I had never considered. Unusual for me because usually when it comes to food and cooking, I’m a cocky ass bitch who thinks she knows everything. That dessert is Cookie Dough Dip.